Dubai: UAE coach Mahdi Ali said he needs “everyone’s backing” if his team are to qualify for the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia.

The UAE were drawn against Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Palestine and Timor Leste in their second round Asian qualifying group on Tuesday. Ali used the forum to appeal for greater cooperation between the league and football association. Balancing national team availability with a player’s match fitness at club level was a key concern.

“I’d like to make a point,” he said. “When we started with this group in 2008 we had a four-year programme, which was carried out not 100, but 200 per cent. Sixteen players from 2008 made the step up to the first team. That was the prime reason for promoting a good generation.

“Now we need to have a similar programme. We have developed a programme for the team and we will discuss with the league and hopefully there will be no issues. There is a good chance of reaching the World Cup.

“We don’t want what happened recently, when we didn’t play in March [due to league matches], to happen again. Now we have six months in which we didn’t play a [international] match.”

The UAE’s qualifiers start on June 16 away to Timor Leste. Ali is concerned that the Arabian Gulf League’s plan to shift their end date from May 30 to May 10 in order to make room for the President’s Cup thereafter, will leave players inactive if their clubs suffer an early knockout. “We need to talk before the issues arise,” he said. “Imagine a player being out of action for three weeks, his season is over. This is the reality and I’ve warned against this.

“We are approaching an important time and we need everyone’s backing. It’s hard to prepare without the players. I can’t call on just three or four players to run through some fitness training that is unacceptable.

“I called for the league to finish on May 30 with the cup on June 3. That way the players will continue to play up until that point.”

Of his group opponents, Ali sounded unflustered. “Of course, I keep an eye on all teams, but I must look at my own team first,” he said. “There is no point talking about the opposition if your own team is not fully prepared. We are happy to meet anyone.”